Mark W. Williams

Mark W. Williams (May 31, 1925 – October 25, 2013) was a US Army Ranger and participant in D-Day. After a successful business career, he entered sports to be an American football coach at the college level, and was later an associate professor emeritus of Business Administration at Carroll University.^[1]

Military service

Williams is a former US Army Ranger. He participated in what is considered to be one of the most dangerous missions of D-Day when he and other Rangers climbed the 100-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc near Omaha Beach, facing heavy German defenses at the top.^[2]

American football

Playing history

Williams played college football at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. He also was able to complete two separate tryouts for the upstart "old" Baltimore Colts but did not make the professional team.^[3] Williams graduated from Hobart in 1949 and then went on to study sociology at New York University until 1951 and later would complete a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.^[4]

Coaching history

After leaving a successful career in business^[5] and making nationwide headlines, Williams took a significant pay cut with a major change in personal lifestyle to become a collegiate head football coach.^[6]

Williams became the 25th head college football coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers (now called Carroll University)^[7] located in Waukesha, Wisconsin and he held that position for four seasons, from 1978 until 1981. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 12 wins, 24 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him tenth at Carroll College in total wins and 20th at Carroll College in winning percentage.^[8]

Death

Williams died at his home on October 25, 2013.^[9]

References